title: Effect of enteral calorie/nitrogen ratios on weight gain and liver function and morphology in rats.
abstract: Seventy-five Simonson albino male rates, each weighing 200-300 grams, were randomly divided into five groups of fifteen rats each. Group I, the controls, received rat chow which provided a calorie/nitrogen ratio of 95 Kcal/gram/nitrogen. Animals in Groups II to V received an elemental diet with calorie/nitrogen ratios of 100, 150, 300 and 450 Kcal/gram/nitrogen each, respectively. During the 30-day experimental period, daily calorie intakes were recorded and the rats were weighed every third day. Pre- and post-treatment hepatic function and fatty infiltration were analyzed and compared. The animals treated with a calorie/nitrogen ratio of 100-150 calories/gram of nitrogen had a statistically significant better weight gain with less fatty infiltration of the liver when compared to the other groups. This study supports the clinical impression that administration of lower calorie/nitrogen ratios is associated with a better weight gain.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002149:Energy Intake; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D009584:Nitrogen